SGA By-Laws

ARTICLE I
Membership and Voting Rights
The Student Government Association shall have two types of membership:

Each recognized Lone Star College–Tomball student organization may elect or appoint a representative to the Student Government Association, in accordance with each organization’s constitution and by-laws. Representation in Student Government Association is a required component of being a Lone Star College–Tomball recognized student organization. Organization Representatives must be designated on all paperwork required by college policy and kept on file in the Student Life Office, including the Student Organization Recognition Petition and the Officers’ Contact Form. In addition to the recognized organization representatives there will be two members of the organization membership selected from the student body at large to represent the general student body. These at-large-representatives will not be selected from the members or representatives of an organization. All Organization Representatives shall sign in and represent only one organization. Organization Representatives shall have voting rights on all issues presented for a vote at Student Government Association meetings.

Any Lone Star College–Tomball student may attend meetings of the Student Government Association as a student representative. Student Representatives shall not have voting rights on all issues presented for a vote at Student Government Association meetings. Individual Student Representatives are not required to be present in order to conduct official business.

ARTICLE II
Meetings

Fall and Spring Semesters: The Student Government Association shall meet every other Wednesday, 4:00p.m., continuing through the end of the regular class schedule. The Student Government Association will NOT meet during Spring Break Week or during the week of final examinations.

Summer Semesters: The Student Government Association shall meet once per month as designated by the Executive Council.

The Student Government Association may, by a majority vote of members, cancel a regularly scheduled meeting that falls during a holiday week, such as Thanksgiving week.

Meetings shall be held in a room designated and reserved by the Office of Student Life.

A simple majority of Organization Representatives (50% + 1) shall constitute a quorum for conducting official business.

• Student Government Association meeting procedures are as follows: Call to Order - The President
• Roll Call is conducted through a sign-in sheet, which will be passed around during the meeting. It is the responsibility of each Organization Representative, not the Recording Secretary, to ensure that he or she is signed in at each meeting.
• Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting - The President shall call for approval of the minutes; a motion is not required.
• Obtaining the Floor:

A member shall not talk when someone else has the floor; cross talk is discouraged.

To obtain the floor (be recognized by the President), a member shall raise his or her placard and wait until the President has acknowledged him or her before speaking.

• The President has responsibility for maintaining order in the meeting. If he or she is unable to maintain or restore order, the President has the authority to adjourn the meeting.
• Adjournment is the President's responsibility; no motion is necessary.
• Voting Procedures:

Discussion on an item is brought to the floor by making a motion.

The motion must have a second.

The President shall restate the motion and ask for discussion on the motion.

After discussion is complete or when the President believes that discussion has become repetitive, he or she shall call for a vote on the issue. The President shall restate the motion, and state the method of vote (show of placard or written ballot). Results of the vote shall be clearly stated (e.g., “the vote passes by a vote of 20 yes and 4 no”).

• To help meetings run smoothly and effectively, SGA Members should (1) review the meeting agenda; (2) know the meeting procedures and policies; (3) arrive on time; (4) limit discussion to the item on the floor and refrain from cross-talk; and (5) stay until the meeting is adjourned to maintain a quorum.

ARTICLE III
SGA Executive Council Members and Responsibilities

All Student Government Association Executive Council members must be currently enrolled Lone Star College–Tomball students, must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher at the time of election.

The Student Government Association shall have the following Executive Council positions:

• President
• Vice President - Internal Communications
• Vice President - Student Outreach
• Vice President - Financial Operations
• Recording Secretary

The duties of the Executive Council members

The President shall

• (a) preside at all meetings of the Student Government Association;
• (b) conduct all Student Government Association meetings in accordance with parliamentary procedure; and
• (c) represent the student body when requested to do so;
• (d) assist other Executive Council members in their duties as requested.

The Vice-President – Internal Communications shall

• (a) work closely with the Assistant Dean of Student Life to (1) publicize and recruit students for advisory committee positions; (2) orient new student representatives to their advisory committees and responsibilities; (3) conduct regular meetings of all advisory committee student representatives to share information and resources and keep the SGA leadership informed of advisory committee activities; (4) ensure that student advisory committee representatives keep appropriate records; (5) ensure that student advisory committee representatives attend advisory committee meetings and meet advisory committee obligations; (6) ensure that student advisory committee representatives make regular reports to the Student Government Association; (7) help fill unexpected vacancies on advisory committees during the year;
• (b) shall serve as president in the absence of the president; and
• (c) assist other Executive Council members in their duties as requested.

The Vice-President - Student Outreach shall

• (a) coordinate publicity for the Student Government Association through preparation and distribution of flyers, banners, signs, reports, and classroom presentations;
• (b) coordinate outreach efforts by soliciting student input through various sources, e.g., town meetings and student surveys;
• (c) take minutes and attendance in the absence of the recording secretary;
• (d) assist the Vice-President – Internal Communications in publicizing advisory committee vacancies; and
• (e) assist other Executive Council members in their duties as requested.

The Vice-President - Financial Operations shall

• (a) Work closely with the TC-SGA sponsor and President to develop, maintain, and monitor the organizations budget;
• (b) Inform the TC-SGA officers of budgetary issues and status;
• (c) Assist in identifying budgetary needs and
• (d) Work closely with college wide officials and committees to assist all organizations at Lone Star College–Tomball in obtaining appropriate funding for meeting the organizational goals.

The Recording Secretary shall

• (a) record proceedings of all Student Government Association meetings;
• (b) distribute minutes and agenda;
• (c) keep attendance records;
• (d) prepare Student Government Association correspondence as necessary;
• (e) maintain the SGA financial records; and
• (f) assist other Executive Council members in their duties as requested.

All SGA Executive Council members shall;

• (a) meet bi-weekly to review current week’s meeting and;
• (b) the agenda for the following week’s meeting;
• (c) be familiar with college policies, issues, and activities for proactive planning;
• (d) complete twenty hours per semester in team development or community service activity; and
• (f) As requested, represent or speak for the student body.

ARTICLE IV
Election of Executive Council Members

• The term of office for each position in the Student Government Association Executive Council is one year, April to April. New SGA Executive Council members are installed on the 20th of April each spring semester or on the next day of business in cases where the 20th of April falls on a weekend or holiday.
• Election of Student Government Association Executive Council members (inclusive of the At-Large-Student- Representative) shall take place during the regularly scheduled Student Government Association meeting on the first Tuesday of April. The current SGA president shall conduct the election.
• A designee of the Office of Student Life shall be responsible for the following: Publicizing the election date and deadline for submitting an application throughout campus. Making information and applications available at least thirty school days prior to the election. Collecting all completed applications and ensuring that applicants are aware of Election meeting. Preparing ballots and distributing ballots at election. Counting ballots and maintaining completed ballots on file for a period of one year. Notifying the college community of the outcome of the election.
• All candidates for a position on the Student Government Association Executive Council must make official written application. No applications will be accepted after the designated deadline for application to run for TC-SGA office. Nominations will NOT be accepted from the floor on the day of the election.
• All candidates for a position on the Student Government Association Executive Council must attend the election meeting (the first Tuesday of April). Candidates are invited to make a two-minute presentation to SGA representatives. A brief question-and-answer period for all Candidates will be held after the last candidate for a given position has completed his/her presentation.
• In the event there is only one candidate for a given position, a motion for acceptance by acclimation may be made from the floor. The motion must pass by vote for approval.
• In the event there is no candidate for an office, the newly elected officers of the TC-SGA will appoint an individual to the vacant position(s).
• Results of balloting for one position shall be announced before a call for presentations from the candidates for the remaining positions.
• A student may apply for election to more than one position on the Student Government Association Executive Council, but may only hold one position. If a student is a candidate for more than one position, he or she shall announce withdrawal from candidacy for subsequent positions once elected to a position.

ARTICLE V
Election of Committee Representatives

• Students are elected and/or appointed through the Student Government Association to serve as voting members on most College advisory committees and on various Advisory Boards and Hearing Panels.
• Advisory committee/board positions are open to all Lone Star College–Tomball students in good academic standing. Student representation on college advisory committees is not limited to those students who participate in student organizations or Student Government Association.
• Student representatives to college advisory committees serve a one-year term of office, September to August, with exceptions on an individual basis as passed by Student Government Association Executive Committee vote.
• Students must apply for these advisory committee positions, and election by written ballot will be conducted. Should an unexpected vacancy occur in any advisory committee, applications will be accepted and the Student Government Association Executive Council shall make an appointment from among interested candidates to fill the remainder of the term of office.
• Students must also apply to serve on Advisory Boards and Hearing Panels. The appropriate director and the Student Government Association Executive Council will review applications. Letters to all applicants will announce appointments and/or recommendations.
• Task Forces and ad hoc advisory committees are formed throughout the year, and the Student Government Association Executive Council will make appointments to fill these additional positions from among interested candidates.
• Elections shall be held early in the beginning of each academic year.

The SGA Vice President – Student Outreach and a designee of The Office of Student Life shall work closely together to (a) publicize advisory committee elections and unexpected vacancies, (b) solicit applications, (c) prepare all election materials, (d) announce election results to the college community, and (e) orient new student representatives to their advisory committee and responsibilities.

ARTICLE VI
Removal from Office

In the event of a Student Government Association Executive Council member is unable to complete his or her term of office, he or she shall write a letter of resignation, address to the Dean of Enrollment Management and to the members of the Student Government Association.

In the event an Executive Council member fails to fulfill his or her obligations or fails to maintain enrollment as a student at Lone Star College–Tomball, he or she shall be removed from office. The procedure for removal shall be:

• A letter shall be written to the Executive Council member in question by the Office of Student Life, with copies to the Dean of Enrollment Management, describing the reasons for removal and asking for his or her resignation. This letter shall be mailed to the Executive Council member in question by certified mail to his or her home address. The letter shall request a meeting with the Executive Council member in question, the Office of Student Life official, and the Dean of Enrollment Management and the remaining members of the SGA Executive Council to discuss the situation and give the Executive Council member a chance to rebut any claims of failure to perform assigned duties. A decision will be made within three days of this meeting.
• The Office of Student Life shall notify the Executive Council member in question that he/she is being removed, and all Student Government Association members in writing of the Executive Council member’s resignation and call for a special election to fill the position. The vacancy shall be announced campus-wide and applications shall be made available to all interested students.
• If the Executive Council member in question protests the removal from office, the decision may be appealed to the Vice President of Academic and Student Services.

The executive Council of the TC-SGA will appoint an Interim-officer to fill the vacancy until the next regularly scheduled election of officers

ARTICLE VII
Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws

Members may propose changes to this constitution and by-laws at any time by submitting such proposal in writing to the Student Government Association Executive Council.

The constitution and by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Student Government Association. To ensure an annual review of the Constitution and By-Laws, the following scheduled shall be follows:

• 1st Fall SGA meeting - announce the annual review and the deadline to submit proposed amendments.
• 2nd Fall SGA meeting - SGA Representatives receive a copy of all proposed amendments
• 4th Fall SGA meeting - discussion and vote on proposed amendments. A vote on proposed amendments shall be made by written ballot.